My Blog Friend Teri dubbed Jerome the "Disneyland Of Funky Places"... a perfect description... I'm going to steal ummm... I mean borrow *winks* that phrase for the next Blog Post as we continue the Jerome Tranquility Tour... *LOL*
It is Funky... it is like a Gypsy-Hippie-Artist Disneyland... and oddly enough as we entered the Town our radio was blaring "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"... Elton John's remake of the Beatle's classic... and Song & Site gelled perfectly... *Winks*
There aren't too many places left that resist change and keep the charm of yesteryear intact without it appearing fake... but I must say Jerome is an exception to that rule even though it attracts hundreds of thousands of Visitors each year.
And perhaps that's part of the reason the Real Estate values are so inflated... to keep it quaint and not bought out by greedy developers that would spoil and ruin the ambiance, like has happened in so many other desirable locales...
I do recall a time when there were many such Towns sprinkled across Arizona... but Urban Sprawl has eliminated the charm of so many now that only a select few remain intact, unspoiled, suspended in time in a good way... and I'm thankful for that resistance...
Because it is what makes these particular places so Special, Unique and attractive...
Tranquil Places to escape to...
When we need to "get away" from the hectic pace of the Present...
And not worry about the Future...
And just experience and appreciate the Past...
Those enclaves of History that still remain and haven't been razed, redeveloped, totally restored or altered in a rendition of the Past, but are the Real Deal...
And you feel it as it transports you to another Era in Time...
Perhaps not a perfect Time, but one Rich in History... Arizona's History...
When the discovery of such precious metals as Gold, Silver, Copper and Gemstones specific to the area caused brave Souls to head West and seek their fortunes and new adventures...
In the Wild, Wild West that this once was...
And build distinctive Architecture in the Region that suited the climate and utilized natural resources...
And plant Orchards... some of which the remnants of are now growing wild... like this Crabapple Tree...
And create places to stay permanently or temporarily...
And its so nice to find a Town where most of that still remains as it was...
Because sadly so much has been erased in the passages of Time elsewhere...
And I for one lament that sad fact...
And celebrate and savor those places that have held on to History and lovingly reclaimed it...
With all the unique detailing of yesteryear...
Like this lovely Porch & the pretty Stained Glass Transom Window... which I really wanted to capture but without being so bold & intrusive as to go right up on the folk's Porch!!! *LOL*
I Hope you'll continue the Tranquility Tour through Jerome with us... I so enjoyed escaping there and capturing the sights through the eyes of my lens...
Dawn... The Bohemian